Casino Poker Game With Community Pool

ABSTRACT

A wagering card game where multiple players can play at a same table. An original community cards are dealt, and each player, in succession, can replace selected cards from the original community cards to try to form a highest possible ranking poker hand. A pool is maintained and players that can form a hand of a predetermined rank or higher will be entitled to the pool.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims benefit to provisional application 60/977,937, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present inventive concept relates to a casino table game, and more particularly, to a table game variation wherein the player can play a player versus dealer poker game in a casino.

2. Description of the Related Art

Casino table games are currently a billion dollar industry. What is needed is a new game which can provide players with a more exciting game than prior art games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide exciting variations of card games that can be played in casinos.

The above aspects can be obtained by a method that includes (a) receiving a first player deal wager from a first player; (b) receiving a second player deal wager from a second player; (c) dealing a set of community cards; (d) allowing the first player to indicate first replacement cards to replace in the set of community cards, and dealing a first set of replacement cards to form a first player's hand formed with the first replacement cards and cards in the set of community cards not indicated by the first player to be replaced; (e) paying or taking the first player deal wager based on a poker rank of the first player's hand; (f) allowing the second player to indicate second replacement cards to replace in the set of community cards, and dealing a second set of replacement cards to form a second player's hand formed with the second replacement cards and cards in the set of community cards not indicated by the second player to be replaced; (g) paying or taking the second player deal wager based on a poker rank of the second player's hand.

The above aspect(s) can also be obtained by a method that includes (a) providing a pool of a variable monetary amount; (b) receiving a deal wager from a player and a pool wager from a player; (c) dealing a set of community cards; (d) allowing the player to indicate replacement cards out of the community cards, and replacing the replacement cards with newly dealt cards to form a final hand; (e) determining if the rank of the final hands meets a predetermined minimum winning rank, and if so, then paying the deal wager based on a rank of the final hand, and if not, then taking the deal wager; and (f) determining if the rank of the final hand meets a predetermined minimum pool qualifying rank, and if so, then paying the player part or all of the pool, (g) wherein the predetermined pool qualifying rank is higher than the predetermined minimum winning rank.

These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method to implement a wagering game, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a table layout that can be used to implement the wagering game, according the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an example of hardware that can be used to implement an electronic version of the invention, according to an embodiment;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

The present general inventive concept relates to a method, system, and computer readable storage which allows a casino to offer to player a poker type game wherein a player can

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method to implement a wagering game, according to an embodiment.

In operation 100, the player places the deal and pool bets. The player can do this as known in the art, such as placing chips in betting circles in front of him. The pool bet can be a fixed amount (e.g., $1 or $5).

From operation 100, the method can proceed to operation 102, which deals a set of community cards (typically dealt face up). The number of community cards dealt can vary according to the embodiment being implemented (e.g., five).

From operation 102, the method can proceed to operation 104, which determines whether a rank of a hand formed comprising all of the community cards is greater than a predetermined rank (e.g., a pair of 10's). If this determination determines that the rank of the hand is greater than the predetermined rank, then the method can proceed to operation 106, wherein the player wins the deal bet. The payout the player wins is determined using a paytable based on the rank of the hand. All of the players that are paying the current game would win this payout. At this point the method can proceed to operation 128, wherein the game is over for all players in the game.

Alternatively, in operation 106, each player can choose whether to receive a payout on the deal bet and end the game (as described in the prior paragraph), or instead proceed to operation 108 (without receiving an instant payout). For example, if the community cards dealt are: 10 spades/10 clubs/jack clubs/queen clubs/king clubs/, then the player can either take a 1:1 payout on the deal bet (see Table I) for the pair of 10's and end the game, or the player can alternatively continue to play the game by continuing to operation 112 and hoping to achieve a royal flush by replacing the 10 spades for an ace clubs.

If the determination in operation 104 determines that the community hand is not greater than the predetermined rank, then the method can proceed to operation 108, which determines what the player's action is. If the player decides to fold, the player can indicate his desire to fold to the dealer and the method can proceed to operation 110, wherein the player loses his/her deal and pool bets and the method can proceed to operation 126 which ends the game for that player. Other players at the table in the game will then each get their chance to decide whether to raise or fold in operation 108.

If the determination in operation 108 determines that the player decides to raise (the player can indicate his or her desire to do so by telling or signaling to the dealer, or placing the draw bet), then the method can proceed to operation 112, wherein the player places the draw bet and indicates to the dealer which cards the player wishes to replace. The player can indicate his or her selection of replacement cards by pointing to the cards to be replaced to the dealer, or alternatively telling the dealer. For example, if there are five community cards dealt, then the player can decide to draw from 1 to five cards (and also indicate which of the community cards are to be replaced).

From operation 112, the method can proceed to operation 114, wherein the dealer then deals replacement cards for the selected cards selected by the player in operation 112.

From operation 114, the method proceeds to operation 116, which determines whether the player (using the cards dealt in operation 102 that were not selected to be replaced along with the replacement card(s) dealt in operation 114) has a hand of at least a predetermined rank. If the player does not have a hand of at least a predetermined rank, then the method can proceed to operation 118, wherein the player loses his or her deal, pool, and draw bets. The pool bet can be taken and kept by the house (e.g., does not go into the pool). In an alternative embodiment, the pool bet can be placed into the pool (or part of the pool bet can go into the pool and part of the pool bet can go to the house). The method can then proceed to operation 126, wherein the additional players at the table can have their turn to play.

If the determination in operation 116 determines that the player has at least a hand of a predetermined rank, then the method can proceed to operation 102, which pays the player's deal and draw bets and places the pool bet into the pool. The deal and draw bets are paid according to predetermined payouts based on the rank of the player's hand. Of course higher ranked hands typically pay higher payouts.

From operation 120, the method can proceed to operation 122 which determines whether the player wins the pool bet. This can be determined by determining whether the player's hand is greater than a predetermined rank (e.g., three of a kind). If the player has achieved this minimum rank, then the method can proceed to operation 124, which pays the player the entire amount (or a partial amount) from the pool

If the player has not achieved the minimum rank, then the method can proceed to operation 126, which allows the remaining players to play. Each player sitting at the table will have his or her turn to decide to raise or fold and play out the game as described herein. Each player can select their own respective cards to replace in operation 112, and the dealer will deal new set of replacement cards in operation 114 for each respective player. Thus, all players at the table will share an initial hand (the set of community cards), but each player will get to replace their own selected cards from the initial hand. Players may choose to play their hand the same as prior player(s) or differently. However, even if a player chooses to play out his hand the same as a prior player (e.g., selects the same cards to replace), the cards dealt will be different than the cards dealt for the prior player.

Table I below illustrates one example of possible payouts on the deal, draw, and pool bet based on each player's final resulting hand. Of course, Table I just illustrates one example, and it can be appreciated that other payouts can be used as well. For example, if the player's final hand (the hand formed by using the set of community cards not selected to be replaced along with the dealt replacement cards) forms a full house, then the player wins 5:1 on his or her deal bet, 5:1 on his or her draw bet, wins the entire pool, and also wins a bonus of $60 on the pool bet. The pool bet can be a fixed amount (e.g., $1, or $2) or can be a variable amount (at the player's choosing).

TABLE I Hand deal bet draw bet pool bet pool bonus Pair 10's+ 1:1 2:1 0 0 Two pair 1:1 2:1 pool 2:1 Three of a kind 2:1 3:1 pool 3:1 Straight 5:1 5:1 pool 8:1 Flush 5:1 5:1 pool 10:1  Full house 5:1 5:1 pool 30:1  Four of a kind 5:1 5:1 pool 100:1  Straight flush 5:1 5:1 pool 500:1  Royal flush 100:1  100:1  pool 2500:1  

Typically, to win the pool and bonus, the player must bet the draw bet. The first player to reach the two pair or better hand (or any other predetermined rank) will win the pool (and also the bonus). Thus, if two players during the same game are entitled to the pool, the first player to draw (operations 112-114) will win the pool. In an alternate embodiment, all players in the same game who are entitled the pool will share the pool equally.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a table layout that can be used to implement the wagering game, according the embodiment.

A gaming table 200 can be used to implement the methods described herein. A set of community cards 202 (dealt in operation 102) is on the table. The illustrated table 200 can accommodate two players, although of course such a table can accommodate any number of players (e.g., 1-10). A first player pool betting circle 204 is used to receive the player's pool bet. A first player deal betting circle 206 is used to receive the player's deal bet. A first player draw betting circle 208 is used to receive the first player's draw bet. A second player pool betting circle 210 is used to receive the player's pool bet. A second player deal betting circle 212 is used to receive the player's deal bet. A second player draw betting circle 214 is used to receive the first player's draw bet.

The first player's replacement cards 220 are dealt to replace the cards in the community cards 202 that the first player wishes to replace. The cards that are to be replaced in the community cards 202 are left on the table so that the next player(s) have the same community cards 202 as original dealt. The second player's replacement cards 222 are dealt to replace the cards in the community cards 202 that the second player wishes to replace. The first player's replacement cards 220 are not used in the second player's hand (the final hand used to resolve the second player's hand, which is formed using the community cards 202 that are not replaced with the second player's replacement cards 222). The first player's replacement cards 220 may affect the second player's replacement cards 222 insofar as the first player's replacement cards 220 are removed from the deck used to deal the cards. Thus, players may prefer to watch prior cards dealt for prior players to have an idea of what cards may be remaining in the deck.

An example of the game will now be presented. Joe, Bob, and Stan are the only players at a table. Joe places a $1 pool bet and a $5 deal bet. Bob places a $1 pool bet and a $25 deal bet. Stan places a $1 pool bet and a $10 deal bet. The dealer deals five community cards: three hearts/four diamonds/four hearts/five hearts/six hearts.

Joe decides to fold, and indicates his desire to do so to the dealer. Joe loses both his $1 pool bet (collected by the house) and his $5 deal bet (collected by the house). Joe's $1 pool bet does not go into the pool, although in an alternate embodiment, Joe's $1 pool bet would go into the pool.

Bob decides to raise and places a $25 raise bet in his raise betting circle. Bob indicates to the dealer that he wishes to replace the four of diamonds only, going for the straight flush. The dealer deals a replacement card: a two of clubs. Bob loses all three of his bets (pool, draw, and raise), since the final poker rank of Bob's hand does not qualify for a payout according to Table I.

Stan decides to raise and places a $10 raise bet. Stan indicates to the dealer that he wishes to replace three cards: the three hearts, the five of hearts, and the six of hearts, thereby holding the pair of four's. Stan is hoping to be dealt more four's to make three of a kind or four of a kind, or a pair of another rank (for two pair) or three of a kind of another rank (to make a full house). The dealer deals replacement cards as follows: nine hearts/jack diamonds/four clubs. Thus the poker rank of Stan's hand is three of a kind (three fours). According to Table I, Stan wins 2:1 on the deal bet (wins $20), wins 3:1 on the draw bet (wins $30), wins the entire contents of the pool and also wins a pool bonus of $6. Thus Stan has wagered $21 of his own money and was paid $56, for a net profit of $56.

It is noted that if Stan's hand did not qualify to win the pool but qualified to win a payout (e.g., Stan had a pair of 10's or better but not two pair), then Stan's pool bet would not be taken by the house but instead get added to the pool. The pool will continue to be augmented in this manner from game to game until a player finally gets a hand that entitles that player to win the pool. Thus, there is no limit to the amount of money that can get added into the pool. When the pool gets relatively high, players may be more attracted to starting playing a new game at the table since their expected return may be higher than if the pool was empty or lower.

As an example of the player changing his strategy based on the size of the pool, consider a game wherein the player bets $5 on the deal bet (and $5 on the pool bet) and the pool has accumulated to $400. The community hand (set of community cards) is 7, 7, A, K, Q. Normally, the player may elect to hold the A, K, and Q in order to hopefully draw into a high pair, thereby winning a payout from Table (pair of 10's or better) on both the deal and the draw bets. However, if the player is required to achieve a three of a kind or better in order to win the pool, then the latter strategy would not entitle the player to win the pool. Thus, when the pool is high, the player may wish to alternate his strategy and hold the paid of 7's, hoping to draw into at least a three of a kind, thereby winning the player the pool. Now assume the player drew two 7's to create a final hand rank of four of a kind. The player would win the entire $400 in the pool and also the pool bonus for four of a kind (from Table I) $250, totaling $650. The player would also win his deal and draw bets as well.

FIG. 3 is an example of hardware that can be used to implement an electronic version of the invention, according to an embodiment.

A processing unit 300 can be a microprocessor and related apparatus (e.g., cache, etc.) which can be connected to an output unit 302 (e.g., LCD, video monitor, touch screen, etc.), and input unit 304 (e.g., keyboard, buttons, touch screen, etc.), a network unit 306 to connect to a network (e.g., LAN, Internet, etc.), a ROM 308, a RAM 310, and an additional unit 312 (used for any other known purpose, e.g., money collection/payment, etc.)

Hands can be ranked using standard poker ranks. Any predetermined ranks can be used to qualify for the player (instead of a pair of 10's). Any embodiments described herein can also be played on an electronic gaming machine and/or over a communications network such as the Internet. The embodiments described herein can also be offered and played using an Internet casino.

Any embodiments described herein can be played with a standard deck of cards or any type of special deck (e.g. a Spanish deck, etc.) The game can also be played with a single deck or multiple decks (e.g. 1-8 decks or more). Further, the order of any of the operations described herein can be performed in any order and wagers can be placed/resolved in any order. Any embodiments herein can also be played in electronic form and programs and/or data for such can be stored on any type of computer readable storage medium (e.g. CD-ROM, DVD, disk, etc.)

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

1. A method to play a wagering game, the method comprising: receiving a first player deal wager from a first player; receiving a second player deal wager from a second player; dealing a set of community cards; allowing the first player to indicate first replacement cards to replace in the set of community cards, and dealing a first set of replacement cards to form a first player's hand formed with the first replacement cards and cards in the set of community cards not indicated by the first player to be replaced; paying or taking the first player deal wager based on a poker rank of the first player's hand; allowing the second player to indicate second replacement cards to replace in the set of community cards, and dealing a second set of replacement cards to form a second player's hand formed with the second replacement cards and cards in the set of community cards not indicated by the second player to be replaced; paying or taking the second player deal wager based on a poker rank of the second player's hand.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, determining whether the set of community cards forms a rank of a predetermined hand or higher, and if so, then paying the first player an instant payout on the deal wager.
 3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, determining whether the set of community cards forms a rank of a predetermined hand or higher, and if so, then offering the player to choose one out of both of the following choices: a) receiving an instant payout on the deal wager and ending the game, b) continuing the method.
 4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a first player pool bet from the first player, wherein the first player wins at least a portion of the pool if the poker rank of the first player's hand is at least a predetermined rank.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, after the dealing the set of community cards, receiving a choice from the first player whether to fold or draw, if the first player folds, then the first player loses the first player's deal wager and the game is over, and if the first player draws then receiving a draw wager from the first player in order to perform the allowing the first player to indicate first replacement cards
 6. A method to play a wagering game, the method comprising: providing a pool of a variable monetary amount; receiving a deal wager from a player and a pool wager from a player; dealing a set of community cards; allowing the player to indicate replacement cards out of the community cards, and replacing the replacement cards with newly dealt cards to form a final hand; determining if the rank of the final hands meets a predetermined minimum winning rank, and if so, then paying the deal wager based on a rank of the final hand, and if not, then taking the deal wager; and determining if the rank of the final hand meets a predetermined minimum pool qualifying rank, and if so, then paying the player part or all of the pool, wherein the predetermined pool qualifying rank is higher than the predetermined minimum winning rank.
 7. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising, determining whether the set of community cards forms a rank of a predetermined hand or higher, and if so, then paying the player an instant payout on the deal wager.
 8. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising, determining whether the set of community cards forms a rank of a predetermined hand or higher, and if so, then offering the player to choose one out of both of the following choices: a) receiving an instant payout on the deal wager and ending the game, b) continuing the method.
 9. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising receiving a player pool bet from the player, wherein the player wins at least a portion of the pool if rank of the final hand is at least a predetermined rank.
 10. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising, after the dealing the set of community cards, receiving a choice from the player whether to fold or draw, if the player folds, then the player loses the first player's deal wager and the game is over, and if the player draws then receiving a draw wager from the player in order to perform the allowing the player to indicate first replacement cards.
 11. An apparatus to play a wagering game, the apparatus comprising: a processing unit performing: receiving a first player deal wager from a first player; receiving a second player deal wager from a second player; dealing a set of community cards; allowing the first player to indicate first replacement cards to replace in the set of community cards, and dealing a first set of replacement cards to form a first player's hand formed with the first replacement cards and cards in the set of community cards not indicated by the first player to be replaced; paying or taking the first player deal wager based on a poker rank of the first player's hand; allowing the second player to indicate second replacement cards to replace in the set of community cards, and dealing a second set of replacement cards to form a second player's hand formed with the second replacement cards and cards in the set of community cards not indicated by the second player to be replaced; paying or taking the second player deal wager based on a poker rank of the second player's hand; and an output unit to display results of the processing unit.
 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the processing unit further performs, determining whether the set of community cards forms a rank of a predetermined hand or higher, and if so, then paying the first player an instant payout on the deal wager.
 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the processing unit further performs, determining whether the set of community cards forms a rank of a predetermined hand or higher, and if so, then offering the player to choose one out of both of the following choices: a) receiving an instant payout on the deal wager and ending the game, b) continuing the method.
 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the processing unit further performs, receiving a first player pool bet from the first player, wherein the first player wins at least a portion of the pool if the poker rank of the first player's hand is at least a predetermined rank.
 15. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the processing unit further performs, after the dealing the set of community cards, receiving a choice from the first player whether to fold or draw, if the first player folds, then the first player loses the first player's deal wager and the game is over, and if the first player draws then receiving a draw wager from the first player in order to perform the allowing the first player to indicate first replacement cards 